Connacht have revenge on the mind for Benetton trip

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins says his side are relishing a second shot at Benetton this weekend, when the sides meet in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup on Saturday.

The meeting in Treviso will be just over two weeks on from their last clash, when the Italians scored a try in the final minute to defeat Connacht 18-14 in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

And Wilkins says his side will feel like they have a point to prove when they return to Stadio di Monigo on Sunday.

"Any time you lose a tight game you want to have a crack at that team as soon as possible," he said.

"When we looked at the draw and realised we could have been playing Benetton or the Lions, I think we would have welcomed either, and for similar reasons. We felt like we hadn't done ourselves full justice in both games but in very different ways.

"To be going back to Benetton, as much as a home game would be great for us and the supporters, to be going back to the same venue, staying at the same hotel on a similar assignment, it helps focus minds and it's important we build on that previous game through those lessons learned, and maybe one or two things Benetton haven't seen from us before."

As well as losing to Benetton in the URC last month, Connacht were heavily beaten when they visited the Italians in the last-16 of this competition back in April 2023.

And Wilkins (below) says his side are well-versed in how Marco Bortolami's side like to play.

"We know that as well as the physicality of their attack and some pretty exciting Italian internationals in the backline, their kicking game is enormously important to them generating metres down the field.

"For us, in terms of our backfield organisation, in terms of the integrity of the front line, putting